Japan's Top Inventions - Season 4

First aired: 1/14/2021 8 episodes

Episodes

1. Planetariums

Aired: 1/14/2021

The behind-the-scenes tales of hit products and creations from Japan: this is Japan's Top Inventions. This time, planetariums, which realistically reproduce the look of the starry night sky. In 2014, a Japanese firm succeeded in creating a planetarium projector that displays each of the approximately 9,500 stars visible to the naked eye in incredible detail, including accurate coloring. We dive into the story behind the creation of that top invention and learn about the latest models.

2. Handheld Digital Pets

Aired: 1/28/2021

The behind-the-scenes tales of hit products and creations from Japan: this is Japan's Top Inventions. This time, the story behind the handheld digital pets known as Tamagotchi. Released by a Japanese toy maker in 1996, these toys let owners "raise" an on-screen digital pet, feeding it, putting it to bed, playing with it and more. We dig into the little-known story behind the creation of these handheld digital pets, a giant hit in some 30 countries and regions.

3. Home Gaming Console / Smartphone Springs

Aired: 5/15/2021

The fascinating stories and secrets behind hit Japanese products, plus parts and machines that boast the top share of niche markets. Our host is Jason Danielson, a comedian who performs in Japan. We dive into the story behind one of the best-selling home gaming consoles of all time. Next, we look into the tiny springs used in smartphone cameras to reduce lens shake, and the company that makes these springs. Its springs are used in some 40% of smartphones that feature optical image stabilization!

4. Neurosurgical Instruments / Weather Meters

Aired: 7/16/2021

The fascinating stories and secrets behind hit Japanese products, plus parts and machines that boast the top share of niche markets. In the first half of the show, the story behind neurosurgical instruments used and loved by surgeons in over 50 countries and regions. In the second half, weather meters, machines which reproduce outdoor conditions like sunlight. They're used to test how products like apparel, cars, housing materials, appliances and more stand up to environmental conditions.

5. Body Fat Scales / Luggage Rack Mirrors

Aired: 7/31/2021

The fascinating stories and secrets behind hit Japanese products, plus parts and machines that boast the top share of niche markets. In the first half, the world's first scales on which you can measure your body fat percentage just by stepping on. In the second half, luggage rack mirrors installed in airplanes. Helping people easily check for lost items, they are now used by over 100 airlines around the world.

6. Sushi Robots / Refractometers

Aired: 10/30/2021

The fascinating stories and secrets behind hit Japanese products, plus parts and machines that boast the top share of niche markets. In the first half of the program, we cover the secrets behind the development of sushi robots, which automatically grip and mold rice, and have helped spread sushi around the world. In the second half of the program, we introduce refractometers, which instantly display the sugar content of fruit when a few drops of fruit juice are added.

7. Camera Phones / Electron Microscopes

Aired: 11/26/2021

The fascinating stories and secrets behind hit Japanese products, plus parts and machines that boast the top share of niche markets. In the first half, the story behind Japanese camera phones, created in the early 2000s, which many later devices took design cues from. In the second half, electron microscopes, an essential tool in the development of new medicines to treat COVID-19, and a visit to the Tokyo electronics manufacturer that has over 60% of the global market share for these devices.

8. Radio Controlled Watches / Encrusting Machines

Aired: 12/11/2021

The fascinating stories and secrets behind hit Japanese products, plus parts and machines that boast the top share of niche markets. In the first half of the show, we cover the world's first full metal case radio controlled watch, created by a Japanese watch manufacturer in 2003. In the second half: devices known as encrusting machines, which make food items with fillings. We visit the Japanese company that makes these devices which are used in over 126 countries and regions worldwide.